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Development and Planning

Results of a new Freedom of Information Act request show that the City of East Lansing withheld key data on the Center City District proposal for over three months. Mayor Mark Meadows tells ELi, "There is no hidden staff agenda or suppression of information involved here.”

Citing changing driving habits, at its May 9 meeting, City Council reduced the amount of parking required for new developments. Council also revisited the contentious issue of parking rules in the Chesterfield Hills neighborhood. ELi’s Jessy Gregg reports.

ELi has discovered that developer Harbor Bay’s Mark Bell made false representations to East Lansing’s Planning Commission on his Center City District proposal. Questioned by ELi, Bell neither denies nor explains the misrepresentations, but insists he is honest.

City Council held public hearings on the Center City District site plan and tax plan last night, although no current plans were available. Council voted to do it all again in June. Here's what we've learned.

The developers of the Center City District proposal say they are not ready for the public hearings set for City Council tomorrow night. They did, however, show new renderings of their project at their pizza event today, and the City Manager told those present that the public hearings are still on for tomorrow night.

The Avondale Square project happened because City leaders were convinced they should spend taxpayer money on "needed" housing types. The project wasn't supposed to end up costing taxpayers over $5 million.

Using the Freedom of Information Act, ELi has learned that East Lansing’s tax assessor believes the Center City District redevelopment will be worth far less than the developer has assumed, calling into question the financial viability of the project.

City Council is set to take up the controversial Center City District site plan and $55 million TIF plan this Tuesday. The project calls for private development on public land. The developers have announced they will reveal the latest version of the proposal the day before.

With City Council set to make possible decisions on the Center City redevelopment proposal next Tuesday, the City Attorney tells ELi the deal doesn't have to be run past East Lansing voters for approval. ELi examines what we know about the deal and the City Charter, and finds the situation complicated.

Last night, East Lansing's Planning Commission split 4-4 on the question of whether City Council should approve the Center City District proposal. We have the details and information on what to expect next.

City Council and DRW/Convexity have reached a deal on the Park District redevelopment proposal. We bring you the details, including on the $19.6 million tax deal, and explain why the redevelopment isn't a sure thing just yet.